Office XP Service Pack 2 has been released. It contains a whole pile of bug fixes for Outlook. It’s available from Microsoft’s Office update page.
How We Got the USAF
Did the stork bring it? Sorry, but no.
The National Security Act of 1947 created the Air Force. As part of the politicking that followed its passage, the so-called “Key West Agreement” was struck: the Army could have helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft of less than (IIRC) 12,000lbs, and that was it. The Army wasn’t supposed to arm any of their fixed-wing aircraft, either, although eventually that restriction was de facto relaxed. That’s how the Army ended up with cool planes like the OA-37 Dragonfly and the OV-10 Bronco.
As time passed, the Air Force began to lose interest in the boring close-air support mission, instead spending more of its time and budget on strategic deterrence and air superiority. Over time, this focus has changed somewhat, with air mobility becoming (rightfully) more important than in the past. However, the fact remains that the Army and the Air Force would probably both be happier if the Army got the fixed-wing CAS assets and formed an organic air support capability, just like the Marines have. Of course, one reason the Navy-Marine Corps relationship is so successful is that the Navy knows their place: moving the USMC from point A to point B.
Comments Off on How We Got the USAF
Filed under Musings
pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
MEC 2002 is approaching fast: it’s October 8-11 in Anaheim. I just got word that I’ll be presenting two sessions there: “Big Security for Small Exchange Sites” and “Exploring Exchange Storage Manageability and Design”. I am also tentatively down for a session on the best way to migrate to Office XP, which should be interesting.
So, a big shout out to all Exchange 2000 folks: come on to Anaheim and get some good learnin’
Comments Off on pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
Filed under UC&C
Groove isn’t even trying
I’ve been using Groove for several projects recently. I bought their client software. Now I find out that the only way to get support for it is to buy a $2500 “support pack” that allows me to ask 10 support questions via e-mail. Shyeah, right.
People complain about Microsoft for a variety of reasons, but even their low-end products have competent free tech support. I once spent two hours on the phone with a PictureIt! support rep identifying a bug with the HP PhotoSmart printer driver. For the $40 they got from me for the program, Microsoft probably spent four times that for one support call. Their pay-for-support program is excellent as well.
When I have time, I’m building up a longer rant about Groove’s frustrating potential: it does some things really well, but it’s missing some basics.
Comments Off on Groove isn’t even trying
Filed under General Tech Stuff
Six days and a wakeup
We close on the sale of our Capstone Lane house in seven days: next Monday, 8/26. Our house now looks like the Box Fairy came to visit; there are full, partially full, and disassembled boxes everywhere. Our friend Andy the painter is coming to repaint two rooms today; I have about a dozen items on my to-do list (including cancelling dentist appointments for next month, calling the satellite TV people, and arranging the final details for our moving trucks.)
Most of the equipment in my workroom is taken apart and packed. In the process, I’ve been doing a Thomspon Deep Clean®, during which I found some Valuable Stuff. I also accidentally shipped a perfectly good replacement disk drive back to Maxtor, instead of sending them the broken one they were supposed to get. Time to add “Call FedEx” to my to-do list.
In the meantime, I am pushing to finish chapters 8 & 9 of my book before we move. Since the truck will arrive on Friday sometime, that gives me a pretty tight deadline. Off to work.
Comments Off on Six days and a wakeup
Filed under Friends & Family
Just Exchange, no spam
I just signed a contract to write the weekly Exchange UPDATE column for my pals at Exchange & Outlook Administrator. I’m really excited by the opportunity, although Jerry Cochran (the previous editor) is leaving me some mighty big shoes to fill. If you have suggestions for topics, I’d love to hear them.
Comments Off on Just Exchange, no spam
Filed under General Tech Stuff
Houston, we have dial tone
We now have telephone numbers for our Ohio house, and a promise of DSL no later than 9/11. Things are starting to move along!
Comments Off on Houston, we have dial tone
Filed under Musings
Why bellsouth is my favorite phone company
For some reason, our home phone stopped working. I called BellSouth. Did they play their usual crappy music-on-hold? They did not. Instead, I was treated to Van Halen’s Dance the Night Away.
Comments Off on Why bellsouth is my favorite phone company
Filed under Musings
Soldiers’ Internet Church
An Internet ministry dedicated to peacekeeping forces all over the world. Is that cool or what?
Comments Off on Soldiers’ Internet Church
Filed under Spiritual Nourishment
Like unto a net
I needed the ISBN number for a book that I knew I had on my printer desk, about 18″ behind my chair. Almost without thinking about it, I opened a new IE window and headed to Amazon before I realized that I had the actual dead-trees book right here. Would this be evidence that the ‘net has thoroughly pervaded my work life?
Filed under General Tech Stuff
From the esoterica dep’t
I have no idea what this article is about. I mean, I understand the individual words, but the concept remains elusive. I guess it’s good to be reminded of my personal limitations from time to time.
Comments Off on From the esoterica dep’t
Filed under Musings
Real estate update
The incessant parade of minor real estate annoyances is beginning to get to me. I am torn between being thankful that we’re able to buy a home and move on one hand and, on the other, the urge to start living in a cardboard box. We’ve completed the home inspection on both houses; our repairs are (mostly) done here, but we’re waiting for the Ohio seller (oops; I almost wrote “remote end”– guess what I’ve been writing about?) to tell us what they’re going to fix. We’re also waiting to get a final closing date on our Alabama house. We’re also waiting for our mortgage lender to decide if they need blood samples, fingerprints, brain scans, or anything else. On top of that, we’re waiting for the results of the Ohio radon test, and we’re waiting for the buyer to tell us what color they want the boys’ bedroom painted, and…. I’ll stop there before I begin to hyperventilate.
Comments Off on Real estate update
Filed under Friends & Family
I fought the law
Consider the following screenplay, coming soon to your local multiplex. It’s all true, at least mostly so.
SCENE: the IRS regional office, a rather tatty-looking office next to a hamburger stand near the public library.
ENTER: PAUL, a fairly young, casually dressed white male. He looks around and spots a window in one wall.
Comments Off on I fought the law
Filed under Musings
At long last
 |
Not appearing soon on MTV’s Cribs: our new house. It’s about a block and a half from Mom & Dad’s, which is great for the kids. 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths and 2 half baths, and a basement. The pictures don’t do it justice, mostly because I’m not much of a photographer but also because my camera doesn’t have a wide enough wide angle. |
| The kitchen features some really awful wallpaper (you can’t really tell from the small picture, but trust me: it’s bad), plus some disco-looking pink countertops and a broken microwave. However, off on the right-hand side (where you can’t see it in this picture), there’s a great breakfast room. The door in the upper-right corner leads to a library/study with beautiful wood paneling. |  |
 |
The family room has a great full-brick fireplace and a little shelf/cabinet combo that should be just the place for keeping snacks. The master is on the ground floor (to the left in this picture), and the other bedrooms are upstairs. There’s a nice-sized formal dining room through the door in the upper-left corner; behind the wall on the far left is a formal living room with dark rose carpet that will (hopefully) match some of our furniture. |
|
It’s a two-story house: 3 bedrooms up, master suite down. There’s an unfinished partial basement, which is so ugly I’m not including its pictures. A little paint, though, and a lot of electrical outlets will turn it into a dandy office space. There’s even a small ground-level window, so I can see whether the neighbor’s car is there– what joy! We got a terrific deal, mostly because the house has been vacant and on the market for over two years. We’re really excited; our excitement persisted even after going to the mortgage company to sign up for 20 years of indentured servitude. Arlene & I are driving home tomorrow. On Saturday, I’ll pick up a |
|
Comments Off on At long last
Filed under Friends & Family
New MTAmazon feature
I’ve been meaning to supplement the book review engine on this site with better links to Amazon, using Adam Kalsey’s MTAmazon plugin. Brad Choate has an interesting application of the plugin on his site. I haven’t figured out yet exactly how I’m going to make this work, but it should be an interesting project for any free time I accidentally happen to get between now and the time the book’s finished.
Comments Off on New MTAmazon feature
Filed under General Tech Stuff
Paul's Down-Home Page 